Refrigerator construction



L jd INVENTOR BY @ZKM-6% TToRNEY W. C. FULLER REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 25, 1934 7 f //a 5f.

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Patented Feb. l1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator constructions, and more especially it relates to refrigerators having water coolers incorporated therein.

The chief objects of the invention are to oonserve space within the refrigerator; to provide for eiilcient and rapid cooling of the water; to

provide for ease and facility of cleaning the container or reservoir in which the water is stored; to provide full visibility of the reservoir so that the amount of water therein instantly may be determined; and to insure against breakage of the reservoir due to jolts and jars. Further objects include simplicity and economy of construction. Other objects Will be manifest as the specification proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a refrigerator embodying the invention, in its preferred form, the door thereof being open;

Figure 2 is a section, on a larger scale, on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section, on a larger scale, on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary/plan view of the upper marginal face of the door of the refrigerator.

Referring to the drawing, Ill is an electrically operated refrigerator of conventional design, II is a door that opens into the food chamber thereof, and I2 is the usual cooling unit. Formed within the door structure I I and extending to the top thereof is a compartment I4 thatis defined by a metal partition I5 that is secured to the inner metal facing IIa of the door by means of bolts I6, I6, or by any other suitable means such tion I5 is a reservoir 20 for water or other liquid to be cooled. I The reservoir is a shallow cylin:

portion 22 in front of the reservoir 20, and the latter may extend into and seat within said opening as shown, if desired. The arrangement is such as to provide complete visibility to the interior of the reservoir.

Formed about the opening 22 in the door facing IIa is a circular series of smaller apertures 24, 24 that open into the compartment I4 between the outer periphery of reservoir 20 and the peripheral wall of partition I5. The apertures 24 permit convection currents of air to circulate within compartment I4, around and behind reservoir 2D, whereby liquid in the latter is efficiently cooled by the cooling unit I2. Experience has shown that the temperature of the liquid in the reservoir can be lowered to within two degrees of the temperature of the food chamber of the refrigerator.

For securing the reservoir 20 in. position a plurality of integral radial lugs 26 are formed on its peripheral face, near the front thereof, and said lugs are clamped against the door facing IIa by means of suitable clips 21 screwed to the rear of said facing. Preferably resilient gaskets, 28, 28

are mounted on opposite sides of the respective lugs 26 to protect the reservoir against jars and jolts incidental to the closing of the refrigerator door I I. The reservoir has an outlet at the lowest point thereof, said outlet including a short pipe 30 that extends through the rear wall of partition I5 and through the door structure to the front of the latter, and a. small spigot or cock 3l preferably of the push type mounted on the front or outer face of the door.

The open neck 2| of the reservoir is provided with a closure or stopper 33, which may be of glass. Securedto the top of closure 33 and projecting beyond the sides thereof is a plate of heatinsulating material 34 which may be a pressed fibrous product such as that marketed under the trade name Micarta. The projecting marginal portions of the plate 34 constitute a flange that supports the closure 33 in the neck of the reservoir. The arrangement is such that the outer face of plate 34 is flush with strips 35 of similar heat-insulating material mounted uponthe marginal surface of the door II. The top of closure member 33 is formed with a recess 36,/ and plate 34 is formed with two apertures 31, 31 opening -into said recess, the arrangement permitting the insertion of thengers through apertures 31 for the removal of closure 33 when filling or cleaning the reservoir.

The improved refrigeratorconstruction is neat and attractive in appearance and should not increase the cost o f refrigerator operation since the cost of keepingthe water cold will be largely compensated for by decreased use of ice cubes. The invention does not reduce the normal storage ca'- 5 pacity of the refrigerator, and it achieves the several objects set out in the foregoing statement of objects.

Although the water cooler shown is mountedin the door of the refrigerator, itis not neces# 10` sarily limited to that particular location, but may `be mounted in other walls of the refrigerator without material sacrifice of its inherent advantages. For example, the reservoir may be located:l

mounted therein and having a surface thereof disposed in an opening in the compartment wall so as to be'exposed to the cold chamber, said compartment wall being formed with a. series of apertures disposed about the reservoir to permit convection currents to. circulate there'about, and

means for withdrawing liquid from the reservoir to the exterior of the refrigerator.

2. The combination of a refrigerator comprising a cold chamber and-a door opening thereinto, a door, a compartment formed in the door structure behind the inner facing material of the door, a reservoir for liquids Within said compartment supported by said inner facing material so as to provide unobstructed space in the compartment about the sides and rear of the reservoir, and means admitting air from the cold chamber to fthe said compartment.

3. A combination, as defined in claim 2 in which the inner facing material of the door is formed with an opening, and the reservoir is formed with a complementally shaped portion seating in said opening.

WARREN C. FULLER. 

